Corpus Luteum (CL)

By RRM Academy Reviewed by Dr. Naomi Whittaker, MD, Board-Certified OBGYN, MIGS, NFPMC, FCI Updated May 7, 2026

A temporary endocrine structure formed from the ruptured ovarian follicle after ovulation. The corpus luteum produces progesterone and estradiol during the luteal phase. If pregnancy occurs, hCG from the implanting trophoblast rescues the corpus luteum, sustaining progesterone production until the placenta takes over (approximately 10 weeks). Inadequate CL function is the mechanism underlying Corpus Luteum Deficiency (CLD), a distinct subtype of luteal phase deficiency.⁴⁴

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